Leg anatomy

Lower extremity (anterior view) We might take the lower extremities for granted, but they are two well-oiled machines comprised of several complex anatomical parts working together in perfect harmony. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to walk to your favourite (or not so favourite) The lower extremity can be divided into several parts or regions, as follows: • • • • • • In this topic page, we will take a brief look at all of them and cover the basics of the entire lower limb. Key facts about the lower extremity Hip and pelvis Bones: hip bones, saccrum, coccyx Hip joint: ball and socket joint Muscles: anterior and posterior (superficial, deep) groups Arteries: gluteal and femoral arteries Veins: external and internali iliac veins Nerves: cluneal, femoral cutaneous, femoral, obturator, sciatic and gluteal nerves, all branches of the lumbosacral plexus Thigh Bones: femur Joints: hip and knee Muscles: anterior, medial and posterior groups Arteries: femoral artery and its branches Veins: femoral vein, circumflex vein, long saphenous vein, and deep vein of the thigh Nerves: femoral and sciatic nerves, branches from the lumbar and sacral plexuses, respectively Knee Bones: tibia, fibula, patella Type: hinged joint, capable of flexion, extension, rotation Muscles: knee extensors and knee flexors Arteries: genicular arteries Veins: popliteal vein Nerves: genicular nerves; branches of the obturator and femoral nerves Leg Bones: tibia, fibula Joints: knee and ankle Muscles: ante...

The majority of muscles in the leg are considered long muscles, in that they stretch great distances. As these muscles contract and relax, they move skeletal bones to create movement of the body. Smaller muscles help the larger muscles, stabilize joints, help rotate joints, and facilitate other fine-tuned movements. The muscles that make up the quadriceps are the strongest and leanest of all muscles in the body. These four muscles at the front of the thigh are the major extensors (help to extend the leg straight) of the knee. They are: • Vastus lateralis: On the outside of the thigh, this is the largest of the quadriceps. It extends from the top of the femur to the kneecap, or patella. • Vastus medialis: This teardrop-shaped muscle of the inner thigh attaches along the femur and down to the inner border of the kneecap. • Vastus intermedius: Between the vastus medialis and the vastus lateralis at the front of the femur, it is the deepest of the quadriceps muscles. • Rectus femoris: This muscle attaches to the kneecap. Of the quadriceps muscles, it has the least affect on flexion of the knee. The hamstrings are three muscles at the back of the thigh that affect hip and knee movement. They begin under the gluteus maximus behind the hipbone and attach to the tibia at the knee. They are: • Biceps femoris: This long muscle flexes the knee. It begins in the thigh area and extends to the head of the fibula near the knee. • Semimembranosus: This long muscle extends from the pelvis ...

Knee, leg, and foot (overview) How many times have a layman’s language and anatomy ever matched? Almost never. For example, take a look at the leg. When your non-health science friends talk about the ‘leg’, they mean the entire • • Fibula • Leg muscles In this page, we will take a look at all of the above as well as the Key facts about the leg and knee Bones of the leg Tibia: the largest and most medial leg bone, forming both the knee and ankle joints. It facilitates weight-bearing and movement Fibula: the thinnest and most lateral leg bone, forming only the ankle joint. It mainly facilitates movement. Mnemonic: Fibu LA is LAteral Knee joint Bones: tibia, fibula, patella Articulations: tibiofemoral, patellofemoral Menisci: lateral, medial Ligaments: frontal, medial/lateral, dorsal, cruciate, anterolateral Bursae: suprapatellar, prepatellar, infrapatellar Muscles of the leg Anterior group: tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus, fibularis tertius Lateral group: fibularis longus, fibularis brevis Posterior group: - Superficial layer: gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris - Deep layer: popliteus, tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus + Show all Tibia and fibula The tibia and fibula are two tibia, commonly known as the ‘shin bone’, is the largest and most medial of the two. You can palpate its anterior border when you run your finger down the anterior aspect of your leg. You can also certainly feel it when y...

Share on Pinterest It’s easy to take for granted all the ways your leg muscles stretch, flex, and work together to enable you to go about your daily life. Whether you walk, stand, sit, or run, it’s due to the work and coordination of your 10 major You may not think about your leg muscles until you experience Let’s take a closer look at the muscles in your upper and lower leg, as well as the types of conditions that are the most common causes of thigh or calf pain. There are two main muscle groups in your upper leg. They include: • Your quadriceps. This muscle group consists of four muscles in the front of your thigh which are among the strongest and largest muscles in your body. They work to straighten or extend your leg. • Your hamstrings. This muscle group is located in the back of your thigh. The key job of these muscles is to bend or flex the knee. The four muscles that make up your quadriceps include: • • • • The Muscle strains Causes of thigh muscle strains include: • overuse of the muscle • muscle fatigue • insufficient warmup prior to exercising or doing an activity • muscle imbalance — when one set of muscles is much stronger than adjoining muscles, the weaker muscles can become injured Iliotibial band syndrome A long piece of connective tissue known as the When it becomes inflamed, it can cause a condition known as Symptoms include friction and pain when moving the knee. Muscle cramps • dehydration • low levels of minerals, such as • calcium • potassium • sodium ...

Plenty of people avoid leg training because it's uncomfortable and painful. Some of that is inevitable, but some of it might be because they're working against their anatomy! Before your next leg day, educate yourself about the essential muscular and skeletal anatomy of your legs, and the Muscular Anatomy of the Quadriceps Your quads are made up of four main Vastus Lateralis: Bodybuilders and physique athletes covet the outer thigh sweep that comes from developing your vastus lateralis, named for its location on the outside of your thigh. The muscle starts at the top of your femur (thigh bone) and attaches to the patellar tendon in your knee joint. Vastus Medialis: That Vastus Intermedius: The vastus intermedius is deep in the middle of your thigh. You can't see it because it's covered by the rectus femoris, but it also originates on the femur and attaches to the patellar tendon. Rectus Femoris: This muscle is unique because it's the only one of Here's what these Biceps Femoris: A two-headed muscle, the long head runs from the ischial tuberosity—or the sitting bones—and attaches to the fibula. The short head originates on the back part of the femur and attaches to the fibula. Semimembranosus: This wide, flat, and deep muscle originates at the ischial tuberosity and attaches at the tibia. It's more medial, or closer to the midline, than the semitendinosus. Semitendinosus: The semitendinosus runs from the ischial tuberosity and also attaches to the tibia. This muscle is nota...

Muscles Origin Insertion Innervation Action Anterior Compartment Tibilias Anterior • Lateral Condyle & Superior Half of the Lateral Surface of the Tibia & Interosseous Membrane • Inferior Surface of the Medial Cuneiform and Base of 1st Metatarsal • Deep Fibular Nerve • Dorsiflexion • Inversion Extensor Digitorum Longus • Lateral Condyle of Tibia and Superior 3/4 of Medial Surface of Fibula and Interosseous Membrane • Bases of Middle and Distal Phalanges of Digits 2-5 • Deep Fibular Nerve • Dorsiflexion • Extends Lateral 4 Digits Extensor Hallucis Longus • Middle Part of Anterior Surface of Fibular and Interosseous Membrane • Dorsal Aspect of Base of the Distal Phalanx of Great Toe • Deep Fibular Nerve • Dorsiflexion • Extends Great Toe Fibularis Tertius • Inferior 1/3 of Anterior Surface of Fibula & Interosseous Membrane • Dorsum of 5th Metatarsal • Deep Fibular Nerve • Dorsiflexion • Eversion Lateral Compartment Fibularis Longus • Head and Superior 2/3 of Lateral Surface of Fibula • Base of 1st Metatarsal • Medial Cuneiform • Superficial Fibular Nerve • Eversion • Weak Plantarflexion Fibularis Brevis • Inferior 2/3 of Lateral Surface of the Fibula • Dorsal Surface of Tuberosity of 5th Metatarsal • Superficial Fibular Nerve • Eversion • Weak Plantarflexion Posterior Compartment - Superficial Gastrocnemius • Medial Head: Popliteal Surface of Femur, Superior to Medial Femoral Condyle • Lateral Head: Lateral Aspect of Lateral Femoral Condyle • Posterior Surface of Calcaneus v...

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• 1 Deep Veins of the Lower Limb • 1.1 Clinical Relevance: Deep Vein Thrombosis • 2 Superficial Veins of the Lower Limb • 2.1 Clinical Relevance: Varicose Veins The veins of the lower limb drain deoxygenated blood and return it to the heart. They can be divided into two groups – deep and superficial : • Deep veins are located underneath the deep fascia of the lower limb, accompanying the major arteries. • Superficial veins are found in the subcutaneous tissue. They eventually drain into the deep veins. In this article, we shall examine the anatomy and clinical correlations of the major veins of the lower limb. Deep Veins of the Lower Limb The deep venous drainage system of the lower limb is located beneath the deep fascia of the lower limb. As a general rule, the deep veins accompany and share the name of the major arteries in the lower limb. Often, the artery and vein are located within the same vascular sheath – so that the arterial pulsations aid the venous return. The Foot and Leg The main venous structure of the foot is the dorsal venous arch, which mostly drains into the superficial veins. Some veins from the arch penetrate deep into the leg, forming the anterior tibial vein. On the plantar aspect of the foot, medial and lateral plantar veins arise. These veins combine to form the posterior tibial and fibular veins. The posterior tibial vein accompanies the posterior tibial artery, entering the leg posteriorly to the medial malleolus. On the posterior surface of the ...